USA > New York > Suffolk County > Portrait and biographical record of Suffolk county (Long Island) New York, Pt. 2 > Part 41
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Aside from his connection with the railroad Mr. Griffin has been engaged in business transac- tions on his own account, and for many years has done a large business in the sale of coal and fertilizers. This, however, has not interfered with his duties as agent; in fact, it has proved a benefit to the company, as coal is now shipped over the railroad while previously it had been shipped entirely by boats. In this way he has made money for the company as well as for him- self.
In all the affairs of the village Mr. Griffin takes an interest, and his co-operation is relied upon for the promotion of public spirited projects. He is a Director in the People's National Bank of Greenport. During his service of two ternis as a member of the Board of Education he has as- sisted to advance tlie grade of scholarship and promote the interests of the schools. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason and is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. His residence, which is situ- ated on N'est Street, is one of the finest in the villag., and in the society of his family he finds needed relaxation from business cares. He was united in marriage May 12, 1875, with Miss Char- lotte A. Norton, of Riverhead, and they have two children: Marcileta, who was born November 17, 1876, and Henry L., June 16, 1878.
M ARCUS EDWARD GRIFFIN, of Quogue, was born March 22, 1851. His father, Edward Griffin, Esq., was born June 27, 1817, and was a son of Nathaniel Grii- fin, whose birth occurred March 15, 1780. The latter was a son of James Griffin, born in 1746, who was a son of John and a grandson of Jasper Griffin, the first of the family to locate on Long Island. Jasper Griffin was born in Wales about 1648 (the records failing to hand down the exact date) and came to this country when quite young. We have a notice of him in Essex County, Mass., when he was said to be twenty-one years of age. and still another notice of him in Marblehead in 1674. The following year he came to this island with his young wife, and finding a location at Southold settled there and spent the subsequent years of his life engaged in peaceful and honest industry. "A strong tradition handed down from generation to generation is that the last Prince of Wales, Llewellyn ap Griffith ap Llewellyn, is the progenitor of all. A record connected with the Tower of London calls one of these a Griffin. The Virginia Griffins, who are descendants of Cyrus Griffin, of the provincial congress, are not of the Jasper branch, but have this same tradition."
The mother of Edward Griffin was Azubah Herrick, and from her side of the family came the present Griffin homestead, where her husband spent his life and where the subject of this article is now living. The mother of our subject, Sarah Smith Jackson, married Edward Griffin Novem- ber 27, 1846, and bore him three children, all of whom are still living. Mr. Griffin was for many years a Justice of the Peace and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, as was his father beiore him. He died October 2, 1872, and left behind him memories of a good and useful life.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his educa- tion at the "little red schoolhouse." When he had hardly entered manhood his father died and he inherited the farm. By the voice of his neigh- bors he was also called to fill the vacant position of Justice of the Peace, which his father had held for seventeen years, and he is doing so well in
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that office that he has filled it continuously to the present time. His marriage to Miss Henrietta Rose occurred May 4, 1875. She belongs to a branch of the old family descended from John Rose, who came over from England, landing at North Sea in the year 1610. To our subject and his wife there have been born three children, Bes- sie R., Grace and Marcia.
Mr. Griffin has a farm of some hundred acres, which he maintains at a cultivation that attracts admiration, and the home in which he and his family dwell is an elegant and hospitable abode. He follows family lines both in his politics and in his religion, being identified with the Republican party and a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an Elder.
J OHN ROBERT, a prominent citizen of Mastic, was born in the town of Brook Ha- ven August 4, 1840, and is a son of William S. and Caroline (Smith) Robert, both natives of Brook Haven. His father spent the larger por- tion of his life in agricultural pursuits, and died November 9, 1877. His wife had passed away many years before him, her death occurring in 1850.
Our subject received his primary education at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass., and later entered Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1862 with honor to himself. He continued under the parental roof until the time of his father's death, and meantime relieved that pa- rent of many of the onerous duties incident to farm life, his father being an invalid for some years prior to his death. Subsequent to that event on subject came to the lovely home where he still resides. His residence is a modern edifice of substantial construction and design and was built with a view to perfect comfort.
November 19, 1885, Mr. Robert married Miss Julia Havens, daughter of Charles S. Havens, of Brooklyn. One son, Josiah Smith, has been
born to them. Mr. and Mrs. Robert are members of the Moriches Presbyterian Church, in which the former has served as Trustee, and is one of the chief supporters. In politics he is a Repub- lican. His ancestry can be traced back through several generations, and he has in his possession a silver bowl that has passed through generations from 1775, which is as far as he can authentically trace its ownership.
C HARLES EDGAR GRIFFING, a repre- sentative of one of the old and honored families of the county and a prominent business man of the village of West Hampton Beach, is a native of West Hampton, his birth oc- curring June 1, 1841. He is the son of Edgar and Hannah H. (Griffing) Griffing, and was the third in a family of four children, of whom he is the sole survivor. His father, a native of River- head, was born February 14, 1809, and was a son of Stephen Griffing and a grandson of John Grif- fing, descended from Jasper Griffing, who settled on the island in the sixteenth century. For a de- tailed genealogy the reader will consult the sketch of Marcus E. Griffin which appears in this issue.
Edgar Griffing grew to manhood in West Hampton, having been brought here when a child of five years old. He spent his life in farm- ing and other pursuits, dying here November 12, 1881. His wife was a daughter of Nathaniel Griffing and was one of four children, whose names were Nancy, Nathaniel, Hannah and Ed- ward.
Reared on a farm, our subject led a life famil- iar to the greater number of our readers, not only in its privileges of a free and hearty outdoor ex- istence, but in its schooling and training for the serious work of life. As he grew to manhood and began to think what he should do for a live- lihood lie could think of nothing better than to engage with his father in farming and fishing. and this work he followed with his father until that gentleman died. In 1873 he opened up a
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boarding house for the accommodation of sum- mer boarders, who had begun to seek this part of the coast in great numbers. This venture soon became very remunerative, and at the pres- ent time it is of great importance.
Some two years after the death of his father our subject entered into partnership with John D. Young and established a business which speedily became very remunerative. About four years ago George F. Griffing, the elder son of our sub- ject, purchased the interest of Mr. Young, and the business is now continued under the efficient management of these two enterprising and push- ing business men.
The marriage of Mr. Griffing and Miss Mary A. Raynor occurred July 1, 1865, she being a daughter of Capt. Henry Raynor, and was born January 24, 1844. To this marriage there were born five children, four of whom are now living. George F. married Miss Christine Halsey and is mentioned above as being in partnership with his father. Stephen F. bears the name of his great- grandfather. Sarah Elizabeth and Edith Maud are still students in school.
The political views of the subject of this article are considered as very fairly expressed by the periodical utterances of the Republican party, and with that party he usually votes. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is regarded as one of the most reliable and honorable men of the community. He bears an honored name, and in his hands the standing of the family has suffered no loss.
M RS. MARY K. FOSTER DOBSON, a resident of the village of Quogue, and the widow of Rev. Augustus T. Dobson, was the daughter of Jabez and Cynthia (Tuttle) Fos- ter, and was one of three children. Lydia H., the widow of Warren Halsey, is now living, and is the mother of four children. Rufus H., now de-
ceased, was the only son in the family. Jabez Foster was a son of Rufus and Ruth (Halsey) Foster, and was born on the Foster homestead in Quogue, May 11, 1795. Here he spent his boyhood, and acquired his education in the com- mon schools, under the tutorship of his father, who was a prominent teacher for many years. When he became a man he turned his attention to farming, settled on the home farm, and here the subsequent years of his life were spent. We cannot avoid the reflection that here are two lives, one of which has not yet terminated on the earth, that cover a full-rounded century, and cont- prehend within their sweep the most important events in human history. Within that hundred years the face of the world has been changed, human institutions, re-created, and social condi- tions vastly improved.
For information in regard to the Foster family back of our subject's father, turn to the sketch of Nat W. Foster, whose grandfather was Rufus Foster, mentioned above. Mrs. Cynthia (Tuttle) Foster, the mother of our subject, was born, November 28, 1796, in Mattituck, where she was reared, and when a young woman married Mr. Foster.
Mrs. Dobson, of whom this sketch is written, acquired her education in the common schools here, and the seminary at Riverhead. She has lived a helpful and cheerful life, assisting as best she could in moral and Christian labors. In 1885 she became the wife of Rev. Augustus T. Dobson, who by his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Marcy, had two children. After her death, he married her sister Martha, by whom he had one child. He was born in 1820, in Philadelphia, where he grew to manhood, and graduated from Lafayette Academy. He received his theological training from Princeton College, of which he was a grad- uate. Many years of his pastoral life were spent in Chester and Glen Olden, Pa., and in Moriches, L. I., where he was located for sixteen years, and where he was highly esteemed and loved by a multitude of friends and admirers. He died in 1891, and his widow cherishes in her heart a deep gratitude for the privilege of companionship with so godly and beautiful a character,
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T HOMAS H. BRUSH, a prominent and wealthy farmer of Huntington Harbor, was born in the town of Huntington, Oc- tober 9, 1838. His father, James Madison Brush, was born on the old Brush homestead at West Neck, October 8, 1809, followed farming all his days, was a member of the old First Presbyterian Church, and died July 15, 1857. His brother, Gilbert B., was a farmer, never married, and died February 17, 1851. Samuel B. was born March 17. 1807, and engaged in farming on the home- stead at Old Fields, where he died. Thomas P. was born December 10, 1821, and died in Sep- tember, 1866. A sister, Charity, born April 22, 1803, married Alexander Sammis of West Neck. Dorothea, who was born November 20, 1811, married Philetus Brush, a farmer, and is now liv- ing at Northport. Mary and Martha (twins) were born July 3, 1814. Martha married Stephen Davis, a foundryman in New York, where she died in the spring of 1895, and Mary died Decem- ber 15, 1833.
The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Brush, was born on the old Brush homestead at West Neck, March 14, 1779, and followed farming all the days of his active life, and died September 13, 1862. He was an active member of the old Presbyterian Church, and in politics was a Demo- crat. At one time he was connected with the militia. He married Sarah Long, who was born August 26, 1781, and died March 6, 1859. His father, Jesse Brush, was born October 2, 1752. on the Brush homestead and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. It is said that the English, while stationed at Lloyd's Neck, caused him much trouble, frequently firing their cannon at his house, and many cannon balls have been ploughed up on the place during the present gen- eration. It is a tradition that one day during these troubled times on Long Island, a party of British officers came to his place, and their pres- ence so annoyed the old patriot that he forcibly informed them that if they did not get off his place at once he would give them something that would send them to the hottest place they ever saw. They seemed to admire his nerve, and did not molest him after that. He married Dalsbetta
Platt, a daughter of Zephaniah Platt, of Smitlı- town. She was a woman of culture and great determination. When her father was taken pris- oner by the English she went without guard or assistance to the commander of the British forces and, in her determined way, demanded his release at once. She was one of the most noted women of her day, did much to elevate those that needed uplifting, and was remarkably good to the poor. Her death occurred December 14, 1835.
The family lineage is traced to Richard Brush, who was the first of the name in this county, coming from England and settling at West Neck in 1672. The mother of our subject, Mary Ann Downing, was born March 7, 1811, in what is now Glenwood, in the town of Oyster Bay, Queens County, and came from an old Quaker family, to whose faith she adhered in early life. but as the years advanced she became a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which faith she died April 1, 1889. She had two brothers, Henry and William, the former deceased and the latter located near Sea Cliff. Her father, Henry Down- ing, married Charity Downing, who was no rela- tion, but was with him a close adherent of the Quaker faith.
Our subject was the oldest of twelve children. five boys and seven girls, who attained mature years, and of this family there are now six living. James M., of Huntington, was the second of the family, and a personal sketch of him will be found in this work; George W. is in Brooklyn, and Gil- bert A., at Oyster Bay; Sarah A. is the wife of Jeremiah Matthias, of Flushing; Susan married George Walters, of Huntington, and at present they reside in Pueblo, Colo.
In ISGo Mr. Brush married Maria E. Bryant. of Smithtown. Her father, Gilbert Smith Bryant. was born in that place in August, 1813. Ilis father, whose name was Smith Bryant, was drowned when Gilbert was but two years of age. The young child, fatherless, but cared for by his mother, and many faithful friends, grew to man- hood, lived a busy and long life, and died March 13. 1893. Her mother, Hannah A., was the daughter of Jeremiah Platt Brush, and is now liv-
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ing at the age of eighty-five, having been born in 1810.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of his town, and has been a farmer all his active years. In 1865 he came to Huntington Harbor and located on the place where he now lives, but having his residence in a different spot. After a time he purchased the place where his pleasant home is now located. It adjoined his farm, and is a delightful spot, facing the Harbor, and surrounded by beautiful scenery and many other elegant homes. Mr. Brush was for six years Assessor of the town of Huntington, and is a Democrat in his political views. He and his wife. are members of the First Presbyterian Church. Their only child, Phoebe Elizabeth, . married John Cogswell, and died at the age of twenty-two years.
J JOHN E. YOUNG, a man closely identified with the progress of Riverhead, was born on what is now called the Middle Road, two miles north of this place, December 1, 1845, his father, John Young, having been born within a quarter of a mile of the same place, November II, 1797. The latter, who was a farmer, .died October 7, 1859. He was a descendant of Ben- jamin Young, who was born in England, and who settled on the island at a very carly date, be- coming prominent in the early history of this county.
The mother of our subject, Minerva Sweezy, was born February 27, 1803, and was the dangh- ter of a prominent farmer, who had several daughters. Mrs. Young died April 15, 1884, having been a widow for upwards of a quarter of a century. She was the mother of eight chil- dren, two of whom were twins. Joshua and James (twins) were born December 30, 1830. the first dying ten years later, on the 3d day of No- vember, and James living until October 12, 1869, having been a teacher for many years both in this county and in the state of Illinois. Rhoda Jane, who was born December 20. 1823, married Send- der Terry, who was a soldier in the Civil War,
and who was captured by Mosby; he was thrown into a rebel prison, where he died. Mrs. Terry lives at Port Jefferson, and has a son and daughter, Preston, a farmer, and Josephine, who married Thomas Terry, a farmer of Terryville. Phoebe Ann Young, who was born November 18, 1825, married Herman H. Rogers, and lives at Speonk. Elizabeth was born January 25. 1825. married Terry Hallock, and has her home at Cen- terville on a very handsome farm. Sarah. wh., was born September 4, 1835. married Henry Fordham, and lives at Speonk. Mary Electa. born January 9. 1836, married Noah Preston Tuthill, who did his duty in following the Union flag through storms of shot and shell. until it floated over a reunited and a free country. Mrs. Tuthill died October 24, 1835, and left one chili. Charles Preston.
Mr. Young, the subject of this sketch. was reared on the farm, and received such education as the schools of the neighborhood afforded. His father dying when he was fourteen, he was com- pelled to take hold of the farm work, and do what he could toward the support of the family. At the breaking out of the war he responded to his coun- try's call in her hour of danger, and enlisted in Company I, Eighth New York Heavy Artillery. going out February 5. 1864. Ile was attached to the Army of the Potomac and participated in the bloody battles of Spottsylvania, the Wildler- ness. Petersburg, Cold Harbor, besides many others. In the last named battle he was shot in the left groin, and was left on the battlefield from sunrise until after dark before he was taken to a hospital. After suffering for two months he was about to rejoin his regiment when he was taken down with typhoid fever. At one time he was given up for dead, but his will power pulled him through, and he was again able to be with his command. After the surrender of Lee. at which he was present, he accompanied his regi- ment to Alexandria, where he was on duty until September 26, 1865, when he was mustered out of service. He participated in the Grand Review at Washington, and the memory of that great occasion is one of the most thrilling recolles- tions that he recalls.
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When the war was closed our subject came back to the farm and was married to Miss Evelyn I. Reeve, January 19, 1874. She was a daughter of Howell Reeve, and a sister of Howell Reeve, the banker at Riverhead. Two children have been born to our subject and his wife: Orville, September 10, 1876, and Editli, October 16, 1885. Mr. Young continued farming until the month of August, 1886, when he engaged in the lumber business in the village of Riverhead, where in addition to his lumber yard he operates a plan- ing and moulding mill. He still retains the own- ership of his farm, however. Some three years ago he put up his present dwelling, near his busi- ness, and it is counted one of the finest in the place.
In politics Mr. Young is a strong Republican and while living on his farm acted as Assessor of the town for a period of nine years. He is a Grand Army man, and was- a charter member of the Henry A. Barnum Post at this place, of which he was quartermaster for about two years. He is also a prominent Mason, having attained the Royal Arch degree and has been Master of the lodge of which for twenty years he was Sen- ior Deacon.
C APT. TREADWELL C. WILLMARTH, one of the leading citizens of Amityville, was born in this village March 4, 1839. the son of Edmund and Mary (Smith) Willmarth. His father was a native of this village. and was engaged on the bay in early life, and in later years was occupied with farming, owning an es- tablishiment near where the subject of this writ- ing is now living. His wife was a daughter of Jesse Smith, who was one of the first settlers in this vicinity, owning a large farm on part of which the Union Free School is located. Her grandfather. Jonathan Smith, who was a Presby- terian minister, was a native of England, and was one of the first settlers on Long Island. He bore an honored part in the Revolutionary War. The paternal grandmother of our subject, Phoebe (Berry) Willmartli, lived to celebrate hier ninety-
seventh birthday, having at one time five genera- tions of the family under her eye. Her grand- inotlier Berry also lived to the same age.
In early life our subject attended school and! began to work on the bay as soon as he was old enough to be of any help. When he was sixteen jears of age he struck out for himself, having. as he says, "a mother's blessing and a scant sup- ply of clothing." He went to Brooklyn and se- cured employment in a butcher's shop, where he worked for some two years, becoming quite pro- ficient in the business. For the two years follow- ing he was in the employ of John S. Robbins. a milk dealer, and for a year and a-half drove a truck for the firm of Sturges & Bennett. During this time occurred the great panic of 1857, and he was thrown out of employment. As soon as he could see what to do next he bought out the milk business of his former employer, Mr. Robbins. giving a promissory note in payment, but, being convinced by a brief trial that there was no money in it for him, lie sold out to other parties without loss.
June 22, 1859, he was married, proving in his own case that young love has no fear of panics or other financial troubles. Miss May E. Bedeli. of Amityville, became his bride, their wedding being the happy culmination of a long acquaint- ance and intimate friendship. The husband then abandoned the city and came back to this village. where he followed the bay for a year. and then for one year was in the employ of Charles Wood. at the salary of $150, with house and firewood furnished. These wages seemed small, however. and when the year had expired we find our sub- ject in New York driving a truck for a wholesale sugar and molasses house. Later he made ap- plication for appointment as patrolman in the metropolitan police force, and was successful in his application. He made a faithful and capable officer, whose services were highly appreciated by the management, and carned gradual but steady promotion until he reached the rank of Captain. Here he continued for twenty-two years and six months, and left the service on ac- count of ill health, having the good opinion ci all the better element of the city.
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Captain Willmarth was instrumental in the passage of the bill for pensioning members of the police force who had been in service for twen- ty years and longer. As a brave and fearless of- ficer of the force he was exposed on numerous occasions to what seemed deadly danger, but he did his duty, and is now living in quiet and peace, after a stormy and adventurous career. The Cap- tain is the father of only one child, a son, William S., who was born at Amityville, January 3, 1863. and is now engaged as a manufacturer of electric fuses for exploding dynamite. He is married and is the father of two children, Edna May and Charles T. Our subject has been a Republican almost from the beginning of the history of that party, having cast his first vote at Amityville for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. In Babylon he has served as Excise Commissioner.
D ENNIS KIMBERLY HALSEY, one of the older and more prominent resi- dents of West Hampton and a man who has led a long and upright life, well known to the people of this part of the county, was born on the premises where lie now lives September 24, 1825. He was the second of the five children of Harvey and Sarah Louise (Kimberly) Halsey, and it is worthy of note that all of the number are still liv- ing. Harvey Halsey, the father, was a native of the island and was born at the Halsey homestead in 1798. He was the son of William Halsey and a descendant of Thomas Halsey, who landed here in the year 1640, making his home in South- ampton. He came from England, which was the home of tlie family, counting nine generations back. Harvey Halsey grew to manhood where he was born and spent his entire life on the home place, dying there in 1884.
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